Thermostatic controller for heating systems.



J. F. McELROY.

THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLER FOR HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1909.

:0 1' 1 1T 3 3m Am dm W2 n 6 t a P mmwm THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHCL. WASHINGTON, D c

J. F. McELROY.

THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLER FOR HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1909.

ALT-HE- THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-L!THO.. WASHINGTON, D. C4

entrain snares raven JAMES F. MGIELROY, 0F ALBANY, NEW YGRK, AElSIGNOB T0 CONSOLIDATED CAR HEATING COMPANY, 3F ALBEiNY, NETV OTB/K, A CQRPUBATTON OF "WEST VIE,-

GINIA.

THERMDSTATIC CGNTRGLLER FOR HEATING: SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 113, 11915..

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMEs F. MoELnoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, county of Albany, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Thermostatic Controllers for Heating Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact disclosure.

My invention relates to heating systems in which the flow of steam to the heating pipes is automatically controlled by a thermostatic regulator and such as are particularly adapted to be used for heating cars of a railway train by steam supplied by the locomotive.

Heretoiore, devices have been used in which the thermostatic regulator was placed under the car, and the valve controlling the flow of steam from the train line to the heating pipes was placed inside of the car at about the level of the car floor. This arrangement was necessary in order to prevent the steam valve from freezing in cold weather and re uired the em olo ment of a long steam trap which was dii'iicult to place in position, and which necessitated the cutting of large holes through the floorof the car in order that the trap might be inserted.

The object of my invention is to overcome these diiiiculties, by providing a trap, the length of which is comparatively short, and which may be placed beneath the car.

A further object of my invention is to pro ide means for preventing the inlet valve from freezing in cold weather.

For a detailed description of one form of my invention which I at present deem preferable, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a car floor, the car being provided with a heating system including my improved thermostatic controller; Figs2 and 3. are respectively, a side elevation and top plan view of my improved controller; Fig. l is a vertical sectional View thereof; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the controller as shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing a portion of the thermostatically controlled valve in cross section.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the heating pipes in the car, the

numeral 2 the inlet or supply pipe therefor, and the numeral 3 the outlet or drain pipe. These pipes are connected with the valve casing l through the ports 5 and 6 respectively. The train pipe 7 is provided with a branch supply pipe Swhich enters the casing e by the port 9. A partition 10 in the valve casing 4 is provided with an opening having a valve seat 11 which coiiperates with the movable valve member 12 operated by the screw-threaded valve rod 13. The valve rod 13 is operated in any suitable way, such as by a wrench or hand-wheel 1d. The opening through the valve seat 11 communicates with a passage 15, having two outlets 16 and 17, the former closed by the movable valve member 18, operated by the valve rod 19, and constitutes a bypass valve for admitting steam directly to the heating pipes in dependently of the thermostatically-controlled valve. This valve forms a part of my prior application Serial No. 399,870, filed October 30, 1907.

The opening 17 is adapted to be closed by the movable valve member 20, which is thermostatically controlled by being connected with the hollow diaphragm 21 through the projection 22, the universal or ball-andsocket joint 23, and the valve stem 24:. The valve stem 24: carries a movable valve mem ber 25 adapted to control the outlet opening 26 through which the water or condensed steam and the waste steam pass. The open ings 16 and 17 communicate with the passage 27, with which the port 5 is connected. The passage 17 is formed in a cylindrical bushing 28, which is provided with an opening 29, allowing communication with the passage 27, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The movable valve member 20 is made hollow and contains a spring 30 which bears against the upper end of the valve stem 24., so that in case oi the greater movement of said valve stem than is necessary to close the opening 17, the stem may move and afterward close the outlet opening 26. The valve member 20 is provided with a short grooveor slot 31, which is for the purpose of allowing the escape of water from the discharge port 5 of the inlet valve, when the diaphragm 21 has collapsed by cooling. This groove extends beyond the contacting portions of the cylindrical part 28 of the valve seat when the diaphragm is collapsed,

thus forming a thermostaticallycontrolled passage-way or valve for water and steam through the apparatus. As the thermostatic diaphragm 21 expands when the steam is f turned on, the upward motion of the valve stem 24 causes the groove 81 to be closed,

. thus preventing steam from the inlet port Y thawing out the trap in case it should be frozen during cold weather, by reason of the fact that steam may be admitted through thefby-pa'ss inlet valveflti and through the groove 3'l, thereby heating the outlet port and'the valves controlled by the thermostatic diaphragm; By this arrangement a com .,pa ratively short Valve 'or trap is provided,

"the whole of which may be situated beneath the car floor, and obviates the necessity oi providin exte'rnal or auxiliary devices for heating the trap to prevent freezing in cold weather. It is obvious that the drainage groove 31 ;may be made either in the side of 'the cylindrical valve member 21 or in the cylindrical easing 28. "It is to be understood that the passage 31 does not'close at the same time that valve 20 reaches its seat, but it is closed at all times when said valve is admitting steam, and is open only when the diaphragm 21 is entirely collapsed. l he travel of rod 2e is'slight, so that the lower edge of the port 31 is opened when the diaphragm is entirely collapsed and the rod 24 is in its lowest position. Whenth'e rod 24: begins to travel upward, its first'effect is to close the port 31 leaving the valve '20 off its seat. Port 31 remains closed until steam is shut oii and the 'dia phragm 2'1 cools, when it will then'drop and 1 open said'port. Steam doesnot pass through port SleXcept when it is first turned on, and just 'sufficient steam would pass to expand the diaphragm 21 and close said port leaving the steam valve 20 open so as to supply steam to the radiator. The entire play of the valve 20, due to its regulation by the diaphragm 21 when the apparatus is in use, is very slight, leaving ample space 'for closing'theport 31, while the steam valve is open sufiicient to supply steam 'to thecar.

' Having thus described this form or my invention, 1 do not wish to be understood'as I being. limited to the details of form and ar'-' rangem'ent of parts herein set forth, for

various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claiinanddesireto protect by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A controlling valve for heating systems comprising a casing having a steam supply passage and a return passage for the used steam, said passages being separated by a partition provided with an opening, a thermostatieally controlled valve working in said opening and arranged to control the steam supply passage, and a normally closed restricted opening being formed between said passages adapted to'be opened by the thermostatically controlled valve when the system is not in operation.

2. A controlling apparatus for heating systems comprising a casing having a steam supply passage and a return passage for the used steam, means for establishing restricted communication between said steam supply passage and said steam return passage, and a thermostatic valve controlling said steam supply passage and the communication between the supply and return passages.

3. A controlling apparatus for heating systems comprising a casing having a steam su l I assa e and a return iassa e for the Z3 8 used steam, means for establishing restricted communication between said steam supply passage and said steam return passage, a thermostat, and means operated by said thermostat for controlling said steam supply passage and'the communication between said supply and return passages.

4. A controlling apparatus for a steam heating system, comprising a casing having a supply passage leading to the heating system, an outlet passage leading from said heating system, and a restricted passage between said supply and outlet passages, and thermostatic means communicating with said outlet passage and controlling both said restricted passage and said supply passage.

5. A controlling apparatus for heating systems comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passages for the steam supply, and an outlet passage for the return steam, means being provided for establishing restricted "communication between said steam supply outlet passage, and said steam return passage, and a thermostatically con trolled valve controlling communication between the inlet and outlet passages of the steam supply and also controlling the communication between the steam supply outlet passage and the return steam passage.

6. A controlling apparatus for heating systems comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passages for the steam supply, and an outlet passage for the return steam, means being provided for establishing restricted communication between said steam supply outlet passage and said steam return passage, a hand operated Valve controlling communication between said steam supply inlet and outlet passages, and a thermostatically controlled valve controlling communication between the inlet and outlet passages of the steam supply and also controlling the communication between the steam supply outlet passage and the return steam passage.

7. A controlling apparatus for heating systems comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passages for the steam supply, and an outlet passage for the return steam, means being provided for establishing restricted communication between said steam supply outlet passage and said steam return passage, a hand operated valve controlling communication between said steam supply inlet and outlet passages, and a thermostatically controlled valve for controlling the communication between the steam supply inlet and outletpassages and controlling the communication between said steam supply outlet passage and the return steam passage.

8. A controlling apparatus for heating systems comprising a casing having inlet and outlet passages for the steam supply, and an outlet passage for the return steam, means being provided for establishing restricted communication between said steam supply outlet passage and said steam return passage, a hand operated valve controlling communication between said steam supply inlet and outlet passages, and a thermostatically controlled valve for controlling the communication between the steam supply inlet and outlet passages and also controlling the communication between said steam supply outlet passage and the return steam passage, and a thermostatically controlled valve for controlling the return steam passage.

9. In a steam heating system for cars, the combination with a train pipe of a steam radiator in the car, provided with supply and return pipes, a casing outside of the car and provided with compartments communieating with the train pipe and with both the supply and return pipes of said radiator and provided with a restricted communication between the said supply and return pipes, and a thermostatic device controlling both the communication between said return pipe and said casing and also said restricted communication.

10. In a steam heating system for cars, the combination with a train pipe of a steam radiator in the car and provided with return pipes, a casing provided with a steam supply chamber communicating with said train pipe and said radiator and having a restricted communication between said supply chamber and the return pipes, a thermostatic trap communicating with said return pipes, a valve operated thereby for controlling said restricted communication, a hand valve controlling the communication between said train pipe and said steam supply chamber, and a second hand valve controlling the communication between said chamber and the radiator.

11. In a heating system for cars, the combination of an external train pipe, an internal radiator provided with supply and return pipes, a casing interposed between said train pipe and the supply and return pipes of the radiator, said casing being provided with compartments with which the said pipes communicate, a thermostatic trap carried by said casing and located adjacent the outlet of the return pipe, the supply and return compartments of the casing having a restricted communication, and a valve within said casing for controlling the communication between said train pipe and said supply pipe, and also controlling the admission of steam from the train pipe to said trap through said restricted communication.

12. A controlling apparatus for a steam heating system, comprising a casing having a supply passage leading to the heating sys tem, a control valve therein, an outlet passage leading from said heating system, a restricted passage communicating with the supply and outlet passages on both sides of said control valve, and thermostatic means communicating with said outlet passage and controlling said restricted passage.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, before two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of April, 1909.

JAMES F. MQELROY.

Witnesses:

BEULAH CABLE, ERNEST D. JANsEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G, 

